Civ 7's 1.1.1 Update Aims to Boost Steam Competition

Firaxis, the developer behind Civilization 7, has announced the much-anticipated Update 1.1.1 for the strategy game, which comes at a pivotal moment as the game currently boasts fewer players on Steam compared to both Civilization 6 and the 15-year-old Civilization 5. On Valve's platform, Civilization 7's 24-hour peak player count stands at 16,921, falling short of the top 100 most-played games. In contrast, Civilization 5, released back in 2010, achieved a 24-hour peak of 17,423 players, while Civilization 6 from 2016 surged ahead with 40,676 players within the same timeframe. This indicates a significant portion of the Civilization fanbase continues to favor the earlier iterations of the series.

In a detailed post on Steam, Firaxis has shared some of the key "additions and refinements" that players can expect in Update 1.1.1, including:

• Quick Move Functionality
• New Natural Wonder Mount Everest
• Additional UI Updates & Polish
• Settlement & Commander Renaming
• And more!

Lead designer Ed Beach provided an in-depth walkthrough of the changes in a video, referencing the soon-to-be-released full patch notes.

Civilization 7 Update 1.1.1 Patch Notes:

The Quick Move feature is now an optional setting that can be toggled on in the game’s menu, allowing units to move to their destinations immediately and speeding up gameplay.

A significant update includes a new start position option related to map generation. The default setting for single-player games has been set to Standard, which offers a more varied and less predictable continental layout similar to Civilization 6. Meanwhile, the Balanced setting is maintained for multiplayer games to ensure a level playing field on more consistent maps.

Players can now rename their settlements and commanders, embracing creativity over historical accuracy. Additionally, restarting the game with a single click allows players to seek the perfect first settlement, regenerating the map with new seeds while retaining the same leader and civilization selections as in Civilization 6.

User interface enhancements include a city and town panel that remains open during purchases, a new notification for cities under attack, indicators for crises, and improved resource tooltips. The update also introduces significant pacing changes.

Alongside these updates, a new civilization, Bulgaria, joins Nepal and new leader Simón Bolívar, all set to launch today, March 25, as part of the paid Crossroads of the World Collection.

Rank Every Civilization Game

Civilization 7 has sparked controversy among series veterans due to its new mechanics and has faced challenges on Steam, where it holds a 'mixed' user review rating and received a 7/10 from IGN's review. Console player numbers remain undisclosed, adding another layer of mystery to the game's performance.

In a recent interview with IGN, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged the negative feedback from both press and players but expressed optimism about the game's future. He believes that the "legacy Civ audience" will grow to appreciate Civilization 7 with more playtime, describing its early performance as "very encouraging." Zelnick also hinted at potential developments for the beloved character Gandhi.

For those looking to conquer the world in Civilization 7, IGN offers a comprehensive guide to achieving every victory, insights into the significant changes for players transitioning from Civilization 6, and a list of 14 crucial mistakes to avoid. Additionally, detailed explanations of all the map types and difficulty settings are available to help players strategize effectively.